Q1. Bhogapuram International Airport is located in which of the following districts of Andhra Pradesh?
- Visakhapatnam
- Srikakulam
- Vizianagaram
- East Godavari
Correct Option: 3. Vizianagaram
Explanation: Bhogapuram International Airport is situated in Vizianagaram district, approximately 50 km from Visakhapatnam city. Although it is being developed to serve the Visakhapatnam metropolitan region and North Andhra Pradesh, administratively and geographically the airport falls within Vizianagaram district, making option 3 the correct choice.
Q2. Indian Coast Guard ship Samudra Pratap is primarily designed to enhance which of the following capabilities?
- Anti-submarine warfare operations
- Marine pollution control and oil spill response
- Coastal passenger transport
- Deep-sea mining and exploration
Correct Option: 2. Marine pollution control and oil spill response
Explanation: Samudra Pratap is a Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) specifically designed to detect and respond to oil spills and marine pollution. It is equipped with advanced systems to recover viscous oil, analyse contaminants, and separate oil from polluted water. While it also supports fire-fighting and maritime security, its primary role is environmental protection, not combat, transport, or resource extraction.
Q3. Which of the following technical features of Samudra Pratap enables it to conduct extended pollution response operations at sea?
- Armament with long-range missiles
- Endurance of 6,000 nautical miles
- Nuclear-powered propulsion system
- Submersible rescue capability
Correct Option: 2. Endurance of 6,000 nautical miles
Explanation: The vessel’s 6,000 nautical mile endurance allows it to remain deployed at sea for long durations without frequent resupply, making it highly effective for extended pollution response and maritime patrol operations, including those beyond the EEZ. The ship is not armed with missiles, is not nuclear-powered, and does not function as a submersible rescue vessel, making the other options incorrect.
Q4. What key change has the Centre introduced to support deep-tech start-ups under the Industrial Research and Development Promotion Programme (IRDPP)?
- Removal of the three-year viability requirement
- Mandatory foreign collaboration for funding eligibility
- Replacement of grants with interest-free loans
- Increase in maximum financial assistance from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore
Correct Option: 1. Removal of the three-year viability requirement
Explanation: Earlier, deep-tech start-ups were required to demonstrate at least three years of sustainability and viability to qualify for financial assistance under the DSIR’s IRDPP. The Centre has now relaxed this norm, allowing start-ups to access funding earlier in their lifecycle, thereby accelerating innovation and growth. The funding limit remains ₹1 crore, and the nature of assistance has not changed.
Q5. What is the primary objective of the SAMPANN system introduced for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners?
- To replace the Central Pension Accounting Office
- To create a unified digital platform for pension processing and disbursement
- To link pension benefits with Aadhaar verification only
- To provide pension loans to retired telecom employees
Correct Option: 2. To create a unified digital platform for pension processing and disbursement
Explanation: SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is designed as an integrated, online pension management system. Its core objective is to offer a single digital platform for processing, sanctioning, and directly disbursing pensions to the bank accounts of DoT pensioners. It also provides grievance redressal and record management, but its primary purpose is unified pension administration—not loans, Aadhaar-only linkage, or institutional replacement.
Q6. Which of the following pension-related documents are made accessible to DoT pensioners through DigiLocker as part of SAMPANN’s digital integration?
- Pension Certificates, Gratuity Payment Orders, and Form 16
- Service books and promotion orders
- Medical reimbursement claims and bills
- Life certificates and nomination forms
Correct Option: 1. Pension Certificates, Gratuity Payment Orders, and Form 16
Explanation: Under SAMPANN’s integration with DigiLocker, several key pension-related documents are made digitally available, including:
• Gratuity Payment Orders
• Pension Certificates / ePPOs
• Pension Commutation Payment Orders
• Form 16
These documents can be securely accessed, stored, and retrieved anytime, supporting paperless governance.